Indiana: Volunteers

March 20, 2006

Volunteer Center

Do you know sign language? Are you interested in helping out with Katrina/Rita relief? Are you interested in helping a nonprofit develop its Web page? There are so many possibilities to use your gifts as a volunteer. Contact Linda at the Volunteer Center of St. Joseph County at (574) 289-3102.

Do you want to work with youth? The Street Outreach Team of the Youth Service Bureau needs your help. As a part of the team, make contact with young people in the community, assist them with their needs and connect them with resources. Safe Station Runaway Youth Shelter is in need of people to participate in recreational activities with teens in shelter and serve as role models. Other duties may include assistance in meal preparation and answering phones, mentors for young moms, grant researching/writing, maintenance, and administrative assistance. YSB also has internship possibilities. Training is provided. If interested, call Kelly Bishop at (574) 235-5517 or (574) 235-9396; e-mail: kellykbishop@sbcglobal.net.

Volunteers are needed for Read to a Child in the South Bend Community Schools, kindergarten through fourth grade. Volunteers read with the same child once a week for 30 minutes. Training for new volunteers will take place at noon Wednesday at the Education Center, 635 S. Main St., South Bend. Contact Amy Bruno (574) 283-8182 or abruno@sbcsc.k12.in.us

Camp Sharing Meadows hosts 25 adult campers with mental and physical disabilities for weekend-long camps. Each camp starts at 6 p.m. CST Friday with staff orientation and ends at 2 p.m. Sunday. Camp Sharing Meadows is in Rolling Prairie, west of South Bend. No previous experience necessary. Contact Chris Spellman at cspellma@nd.edu or Sandy Furman at (219) 778-2585 or sfurman@sharefoundation.org or visit us at www.sharefoundation.org.

The Community of Caring Program of REAL Services has a volunteer handyman opportunity for as many individuals as are interested. Volunteers assist with minor home repairs, with painting and carpentry, and with minor electrical, heating and plumbing repairs in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. For further information, contact Leah Schrock at (574) 284-2644, ext. 263, or e-mail lschrock@realservicesinc.com

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana, a nonprofit organization serving 10 counties and working with the community to feed the hungry, needs volunteers to do food drives. This task will be in two-hour shifts, on Fridays, handing out fliers of needed items and collecting the food and placing it in the truck. Also available are specific jobs that involve un-packing, repacking or organizing food items. May involve some lifting and bending. Call (574) 232-9986 or e-mail fbnivol@yahoo.com

The Housing Authority of South Bend (HASB) is seeking adult volunteers, as well as junior and senior high school students with B or higher GPA to assist with the HASB after-school program. You will work with teens from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and grade-school children from 3 to 4:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday. Volunteers are needed at all HASB Community Buildings. The HASB is looking for male and female volunteers to lead Boy and Girl Scout troops. Call Stephanie Ball at (574) 235-9890 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The YWCA of St. Joseph County is looking for interested individuals to participate in its court watch program. The YWCA Court Watch program is designed to monitor the way domestic violence cases are handled in St. Joseph County. Court monitors must be 18 years of age and be able to volunteer a minimum of four hours in court each week. Monitors will observe, collect and record information regarding the adjudication of court hearings and trials that arise out of domestic violence situations. Monitors will be trained and supervised by the YWCA legal advocate. For more information, call (574) 233-9491.

Dismas House, a faith-based residential prisoner re-entry for women and men, is seeking volunteer cooks to prepare evening meals for its residents from May through August. In a family setting, volunteer cooks, residents and staff eat together Monday through Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Volunteers can prepare meals on site or meals can be brought to the site. Volunteer cooks should have basic cooking skills. For more information or to sign up, contact LaToya or Maria at (574) 233-8522.

The YMCA of Michiana is seeking a volunteer for approximately three to four hours per week to help with filing. Interested volunteers may contact LeighAnn at (574) 287-9622.

The program "Volunteers are Mission Critical" will be presented from 9 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday for adults interested in exploring volunteer opportunities with The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. These one-hour programs will offer an overview of the numerous volunteer openings at the agency. RSVP to Jackie at (574) 243-3100 by Tuesday if you plan to attend. Those with interest in attending the agency's Patient Care Training -- to be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 4, 6 and 11 -- are strongly encouraged to attend this informative presentation.

Life Treatment Centers, a nonprofit organization in South Bend and Elkhart, offers a continuum of care for individuals suffering from alcohol and chemical dependencies. There are several volunteer opportunities (three to 20 hours per week), including volunteer treatment aide, educational aide, after-hours receptionist and clerical assistant. Short-term volunteer opportunities include preparing sack lunches and weekend activities. Visit the Web site at www.lifetreatmentcenters.org or call (574) 233-5433, ext. 205, for additional information. RSVP, Volunteer Center

RSVP seeks volunteers 55 and older to assist the children of LaSalle Intermediate Academy's Service Learning Club during their spring gardening project. You will help the faculty and children in the school's greenhouse. No gardening experience is required, just a willingness to get your hands in the dirt and work with children! The following Tuesdays are available from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.: April 18, April 25, May 9, May 16, May 23 or May 30. Choose one day or all. Call Chris DeToro at (574) 234-3111, ext. 61.

Alzheimer's Services is seeking volunteers to staff the Helpline, a telephone service that provides support and information to family members and caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's and related forms of dementia. A weekly four-hour shift is needed. Training is provided. For more information call Barbara at (574) 232-4121.

Milton Adult Day Services invites you to be a "companion" to adults in day services so their families can go to work knowing their loved one is safe. Visit with participants, take walks, help with lunch, reminisce and share your friendship with someone who needs you. Make a difference if you live or work close by and can help for even an hour. Call Pam at (574) 234-3111, ext. 24.

Busy Hands seeks volunteers to sew quilt squares together to make quilt tops. Volunteers are also needed to stuff door draft dodgers. Either of these can be done at your home or in our office. If you are a Busy Hands volunteer, your services are especially needed at this time. Call Jean if you are interested at (574) 234-3111, ext. 57.

The RSVP Mentoring Program is seeking volunteers to mentor youth for AIM (Aftercare for Indiana through Mentoring) at the South Bend Juvenile Correctional Facility for one to two hours weekly. Focus on "life after incarceration issues" with a boy who will return home to St. Joseph County. Assist youth individually any time Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., or in a group setting Monday or Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8. Call Pam at (574) 234-3111, ext. 24.

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center-Mishawaka seeks a courier for Thursday mornings to transport patients as well as flowers, medications and supplies. Also needed is a Gift Shop volunteer willing to be flexible to fill in when needed. Call Pam at (574) 234-3111, ext. 24.

Work One seeks volunteers familiar with a computer to assist job seekers register in the state employment system. The customer service "floater" would move around the bank of computers, assisting as needed, to help job seekers not familiar with the computer. Time needed is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., three days per week. Call Pam at (574) 234-3111, ext. 24.

The Northern Indiana Center for History seeks individuals interested in helping to install changing exhibits at the museum. Jobs include painting walls, placing graphics, and moving cases. Training is provided, and individuals will work with the museum's exhibition staff. A need exists for about four weeks in May, when the Center for History opens the exhibit "Rockne: Crossing the Last Chalk Line." For more information, contact Deb Neumann, volunteer coordinator, at (574) 235-9664, ext. 264.